JOWAI: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has taken exception to the State Government’s move to upgrade Lower and Upper Primary Schools to the Secondary level under the Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan in early 2013, saying that the move has created inconvenience to hundreds of students in Jaintia Hills.
Six schools were upgraded in Jaintia Hills under the RMSA aimed at providing better education to students from poor family backgrounds including those students with special abilities. The Government UPS, Mowkaiaw, Jowai Government Basic School, Jowai, Government Senior Basic School, Mynso, Senior Basic School, Sutnga, Shangpung Government UPS, and Saipung Government UP School were upgraded to Secondary level without the appointment of a single teacher, the JSU alleged.
“Instead of recruiting new qualified teachers, LP and UP schools teachers were forced to teach in the higher level,” JSU president Rikut N Parien said, while informing that a team of JSU members, while reacting to complaints, had inspected some RMSA schools in Jaintia Hills.
“How can the government expect to provide quality education when LP and UP school teachers are forced to teach at the secondary level?” the JSU president questioned.
The JSU demanded immediate appointment of qualified teachers in all the RMSA schools besides other requirements including extension of class rooms and construction of Science laboratories.
“We are giving a week’ time to the Education Department to fulfill our demands; else we will initiate action on our own for the betterment of our dear students,” the JSU chief said.